CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 30: Tyler Mahle #30 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 30, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds got a surprise early run off Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale to begin last night’s game at Truist Park, and lefty Andrew Abbott turned back the clock with a start worthy of his All Star status in 2025. Still, the Reds managed to lose said game in 10 innings after being successfully bunted-upon, and they are in danger of clinching an end-of-season record that’s at least 10 games under .500.
The thresholds, the milestones they may reach!
Brady Singer gets the ball for the final time this season on Thursday night, marking what may well be his final start in a Reds uniform as he heads into free agency nowhere near good enough to warrant the idiotic Qualifying Offer concept that was floated when the front office elected to keep him at the trade deadline. Old friend Tyler Mahle – himself having a solid season – will start for the Braves against the club that once drafted him.
First pitch is set for 7:15 PM ET. Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin:
Kyle Teel celebrating a home run, but showing how we’re all feeling right now. | (White Sox/Twitter)
Friends — the White Sox are headed to the postseason! In a game dominated entirely by the South Siders, the Royals went down 9-1, giving Chicago both a series win and a playoff berth. Let’s break down this beautiful win.
The White Sox started with early runs and gritty baseball, playing like a team determined to make the playoffs today. Sam Antonacci led off with a single, and Kyle Teel followed with a bunt and was safe on a throwing error by Royals pitcher Randy Dobnak. A wild pitch then advanced both runners, and Antonacci scored on Miguel Vargas’ single. With one out, Andrew Benintendi brought Teel home on a sacrifice fly. Vargas stole second and scored on a single from Tristan Peters.
Chase Meidroth singled, but Colson Montgomery couldn’t bring home either runner.
In the bottom of the frame, the Royals couldn’t answer despite a double from Bobby Witt Jr., while Sox starter David Sandlin recorded two of his seven strikeouts in the inning.
The second inning stayed busy for the White Sox, starting with a leadoff single from Braden Montgomery. Antonacci drew a walk, and Randy Dobnak, who was not having a great outing, made matters worse with a botched pickoff attempt that allowed Braden to score.
A pitch then hit Teel, and Vargas followed with another single, sending Antonacci home.
Munetaka Murakami grounded into a force out, but plated Teel on the play. With one out and two on, the Royals pulled Dobnak. Anthony Gose retired the next two batters, but the White Sox took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the second.
Sandlin ran into mild trouble after allowing two singles but recorded his fourth strikeout of the game, his third looking.
For the third straight inning, the Good Guys had their leadoff man aboard, this time with a two-bagger from Meidroth, his 30th double of the season. Meidroth was unfortunately stranded. Sandlin kept the Royals quiet, retiring them in order.
Teel started the fourth with a solo home run off the new pitcher, Alex Lange.
Perhaps a bit frazzled, Lange gave up two free passes that would haunt him. In the next at-bat, Peters grounded into a force out, sending Vargas home to make it 8-0. Sandlin finally surrendered his first run of the game on a round-tripper to Salvador Perez in the bottom of the fourth, but struck out two more and allowed no additional damage.
The bases were loaded again in the fifth for, say it with me, a new Royals pitcher. This time it was Jose Caus. A single and two walks filled the bases, and Benintendi drew another walk to make it 9-1. Sandlin continued to dominate, striking out a career-high seven without issuing a walk through five innings.
For the first time all game, the White Sox went down in order in the sixth. Sandlin returned the favor in the bottom half, retiring the Royals in order. Both teams put a runner on in the seventh, and both left that runner stranded. The Sox went down in order again in the eighth.
Tyler Davis kept the Royals off the bases in the bottom of the eighth, leaving the White Sox three outs from glory. But first, Nolan Hoffman came on for the top of the ninth. With one out, Braden took advantage of the sun in left fielder Isaac Collins’ eyes with a double. Teel got plunked to put two on with two outs, just for a little added drama, but Vargas went down swinging.
Trevor Richards got a quick first out but decided our nerves hadn’t been tested enough and gave up a walk. A fly ball to Brenton Doyle made it two away — deep breaths, dear reader. Nick Loftin doubled, putting runners on second and third. Thankfully, Salvy isn’t known for his speed, so he got the red light. Richards got John Rave to hit a ground ball, and boom, ballgame.
Your 2026 White Sox are heading to the playoffs!
How does one even pick an MVP for this game?
MVPs: David Sandlin and Kyle Teel Sandlin: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K Teel: 3 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR, 0 K, excellent behind the plate
Runners-Up: Miguel Vargas: 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB Andrew Benintendi: 2 RBI, 2 BB Braden Montgomery: 1 R, 2 H
We still don’t know where, or even who the opponent will be. The Cubs defeated the Marlins 2-1 on a gorgeous late September afternoon at Wrigley Field and in so doing, clinched a National League wild-card berth. That’s two postseasons in a row for the Cubs, the first time they’ve done that since four straight from 2015-18.
After Matthew Boyd had a scoreless top of the first, Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the bottom of the inning with a walk.
Pretty much every one of the 35,410 paid attendance, plus gameday staff, plus all the players and coaches and team management in attendance, knew PCA was going to take off and try for his 40th stolen base of 2026.
Don’t ever forget where you were when you saw this, or found out about it, it’s baseball history and the cap to an amazing soon-to-be MVP season for the Cubs center fielder. He’s the seventh MLB player to accomplish a 40-homer, 40-steal season. The others:
Shohei Ohtani (54 homers and 59 steals in 2024) Ronald Acuña Jr. (41 homers and 73 steals in 2023) Alfonso Soriano (46 homers and 41 steals in 2006) Alex Rodriguez (42 homers and 46 steals in 1998) Barry Bonds (42 homers and 40 steals in 1996) Jose Canseco (42 homers and 40 steals in 1988)
Unfortunately, PCA was stranded. He got to third on a fly to center by Michael Busch, but Michael Conforto hit a comebacker to end the inning.
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead off Matthew Boyd in the third. Brian Navarretto led off with a double and two outs later, Jacob Marsee singled him in.
The Cubs once again had lots of traffic on the bases but could not score. A leadoff walk to Ian Happ in the second led to a double play ball hit by Nico Hoerner. Then Pedro Ramirez singled and stole second, but Carson Kelly grounded out to end the inning. In the third with one out, PCA and Seiya Suzuki singled and one out later Conforto walked to load the bases, but Happ grounded out. And in the fourth, Ramirez walked with one out and stole second again, but Kelly grounded out and Dansby Swanson struck out to end the inning.
If you’re counting — and maybe you weren’t but I was — that made the Cubs 0-for-8 with RISP in the first four innings and, up to that time, 2-for-34 in the series with RISP.
Ian Happ’s sixth-inning triple was his third of the year, tying him with Matt Shaw and Dansby Swanson for second most among Cubs. Pete Crow-Armstrong has eight.
It was Happ’s 19th triple in 1,292 games and 5,074 plate appearances during his 10 seasons as a Cub.
It was just his third leading off an inning, all at home and with the score tied. The first was July 4, 2017, vs. the Rays, in the second inning with no score; the second, June 7 of this year, vs. the Giants, in the fourth, with the score 1-1.
The Cubs lost both earlier games, 6-5 to the Rays and 2-1 to the Giants.
Boyd finished the seventh uneventfully, and he wound up retiring 11 of the last 12 hitters he faced. As I wrote in the game preview, Boyd had a 5.53 ERA in 10 Wrigley starts before this one — this was by far his best start at home this year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Boyd got a loud ovation when walking out to the bullpen for warmups this afternoon and he tipped his cap several times.
More on Boyd’s day from John:
This was Matthew Boyd’s ninth quality start of a total 22. Only Shota Imanaga has more among Cubs, 14 of 31. Colin Rea has six such starts; David Peterson, five; and seven others from four to one.
Then it was up to the Cubs bullpen and, well, you know.
Daniel Palencia entered to throw the eighth. He issued a leadoff walk but retired the next three Marlins in order. The Cubs also went down in order in the eighth and so Ryan Zeferjahn was given the save opportunity. This probably did not fill you with confidence, but Zeferjahn was nails in this one. He got Agustin Ramirez to pop up foul on the second pitch he saw, then pinch-hitter Kyle Stowers grounded to short, also on Zeferjahn’s second pitch.
As noted in the clip by JD, this series didn’t go the way the Cubs wanted, but they got just enough hitting and solid bullpen work to win this game and get into the postseason. We will be watching the Phillies vs. Brewers (5:05 CT) and Padres vs. Dodgers (9:10 CT) tonight to see where the Cubs position will be entering the final three games of the year.
Before I get to tomorrow’s action, the final home game of the year always features the annual bleacher potluck lunch (Bluesky link):
This is why I love the bleachers so much — the friends I’ve made there, the camaraderie, the atmosphere, all the people. It’s been my home for decades. There’s no place in professional sports anything like it.
The Cubs will play a doubleheader against the Red Sox in Boston Friday, trying to get ahead of a nor’easter forecast to hit the New England area by Saturday. As of the time of this recap both teams list “TBD” as starters for the two games tomorrow, though we do know this (Bluesky link):
The games will be at 12:05 p.m. and 5:05 p.m. CT and televised by Marquee Sports Network.
As for BCB procedure Friday — a game preview will post for the day game at 10:30 a.m. CT. After that game I’ll post a recap that will include starting pitcher and other info for the night game. Then a night game recap will post Saturday morning.
Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, the first NBA player to reach 20,000 points and one of five players to make the All-Star team in each season of his career, died Wednesday, Sept. 23. He was 93.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Pettit's passing in a post on social media, but did not provide any additional details. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.
"The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Bob Pettit, a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position during his career," the post read. "The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2-time MVP retired as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and left an enduring legacy. He led the St. Louis Hawks to the 1958 NBA championship over the Boston Celtics. The Basketball Hall of Fame salutes this true giant of the game."
During his 11-year career with the Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks, Pettit won Rookie of the Year in 1955 and MVP in 1956, the first time the award was ever furnished, and 1959.
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame mourns the passing of Bob Pettit, a sleek, skilled big man who revolutionized the forward position during his career. The 11-time NBA All-Star and 2-time MVP retired as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history and left an enduring legacy. He… pic.twitter.com/YNtR5axLNZ
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native was named to the NBA’s 75th anniversary team and is one of four players to make all four NBA anniversary teams — 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th.
He was also one of five players in NBA history to make an All-Star team every season of his career, joining Paul Arizin, Jerry West, Julius Erving and Yao Ming. Pettit was also voted All-Star Game MVP a record four times.
Pettit averaged 26.4 points per game in his career and is the Hawks' all-time leader in rebounds (12,849). His career 16.2 rebounds per game is the third highest in league history, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He also is the franchise leader in free throws made and attempts.
Pettit is also among the Top 3 in franchise history in career games played, field goals, assists and triple-doubles.
Pettit became the first NBA player to score 20,000 points on Nov. 13, 1964, and won his lone NBA championship in 1958. He entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.
Pettit played college basketball for LSU and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1954.
The LSU family mourns the loss of Tiger legend and Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Famer Bob Pettit.
Pettit helped the Tigers reach the 1953 NCAA Final Four. He was named an All-American in 1953 and 1954 before being drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1954. LSU retired his jersey the same year, the first Tigers' jersey retired in any sport.
Pettit was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1973 and in February 2016, he was was honored with a statue on the basketball plaza of the Maravich Center at LSU.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame mourns the passing of 1973 inductee Bob Pettit.
A Baton Rouge native and LSU legend, Pettit was an 11-time NBA All-Star, two-time MVP and NBA champion with the Hawks.
LSUsports.net recounts how Pettit was not an immediate basketball star as a teenager, and as a sophomore at Baton Rouge High School, he was cut from the varsity team. By the time he was a senior, he had led Baton Rouge High to its first state championship in more than 20 years and received offers from numerous colleges, including hometown LSU.
“I never played basketball until I was … a junior in high school,” Pettit once told NBA.com. “I practiced at night with a lamp in the window in my back bedroom, shooting baskets hour after hour. I just learned trial-and-error. Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it. Finally, I learned something.”
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a 3-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time, the Brewers will play a regular-season game with 99 wins next to their name. For the first time, the Brewers will have a chance to do something they’ve never done as a franchise before, and that’s win 100 games.
Tonight has the makings of an offensive duel as both pitchers on the mound have an ERA over 4.00. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean a ton, but both offenses have been swinging a hot bat as of late. The Brewers will have to face Andrew Painter, who has had an up-and-down rookie season. Specifically, through the month of September, he enters with a 4.03 ERA, having pitched beyond five innings just twice. During that span, he has allowed four home runs, giving the Brewers bats a chance to improve their power stroke in their final road game of the season.
Up until a few hours ago, the Brewers hadn’t announced their starter for tonight’s game as they continue to get pitchers lined up for next weekend’s NLDS. Shane Drohan, who hasn’t made a start since September 12, will get the call. His previous two appearances have come out of the bullpen, where he threw a collective 2 1/3 innings, not allowing a run. He’ll look to make an interesting case to carry him as a reliable lefty in the event a starter has to be pulled early. However, Drohan got knocked around a bit in his last two starts, giving up a total of 11 runs, 10 hits, and four home runs.
The Crew will be without Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and Andrew Vaughn in the lineup tonight as Gary Sánchez will make the start behind the plate with Sal Frelick in left field. Garrett Mitchell will lead off the top of the lineup, with Brice Turang to follow and William Contreras batting third. Joey Ortiz will find himself at the bottom of the lineup playing third base, keeping David Hamilton off the field.
Tonight’s game begins at 5:05 p.m., and you’ll be able to watch the game on Brewers.TV and listen to it on WTMJ 620.
The Red Sox would love to have some more momentum prior to the playoffs as they wrap up the penultimate regular season. Ranger Suárez would love to continue his own momentum with a 0.92 ERA in September. The left-hander is historically dependable in the playoffs and he can offer another reminder of that with an appetizer of sorts in the rubber match against the Cleveland Guardians.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate behind him Thursday night at Fenway Park.
The Guardians, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win or loss by the Astros or Rangers, counter with Daniel Espino. The right-hander is finally back on the mound after dealing with injuries after being selected in the first round of the 2019 draft.
The 21-year-old winger moved extremely well. His hands and legs were at a different gear.
“Mich I thought was skating really well and felt it with the puck,” Rick Tocchet said. “It was really nice to see.”
Michkov scored just 4:02 minutes into the game on a rebound. During that sequence, he displayed some crisp passing in the offensive zone.
In the second period, he had a nifty touch pass through his legs to spring Christian Dvorak for a scoring chance.
Michkov would have had two goals if he buried a Grade A look in the third period. He was excellent, though, and provided a really good sign of him bouncing back from his sophomore slump.
“He was awesome,” Porter Martone said. “He played really well. … I think we should expect a big season from him.”
“He looks big in net,” Tocchet said. “He made some really good saves.”
It was a good tune-up for the 28-year-old. We’ll see if Woll will be needed on opening night. Dan Vladar is day to day with an upper-body injury.
• Zach Aston-Reese, Jack Studnicka, Danila Klimovich, Nolan Foote and Cam Dineen cleared waivers Thursday and were loaned to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.
Carl Grundstrom also cleared, but he’ll stay with the big club for now. That’s likely related to the uncertainty around Denver Barkey’s status for opener. The 21-year-old forward has been considered day to day with a lower-body injury.
We were talking to Rick Tocchet when this happened. Tocchet said Barkey would maybe be a possibility for Saturday's preseason finale, but not sure if that will still be the case. We'll see about his status for next Wednesday's regular-season opener. https://t.co/IGxAUA3YlG
If Barkey is unavailable for the regular-season opener, the Flyers could turn to Grundstrom or Nikita Grebenkin. Grebenkin has to be healthy, though. He exited briefly in the third period after taking a hip check into the boards. The 23-year-old had a delayed start to training camp because of a flare-up with his injury from last season.
It’s also possible Knuble has forced his way into the conversation. The Flyers have given him a good look and he hasn’t wasted it. In three preseason games and one rookie game, Knuble has put up three goals. The Flyers are high on the 22-year-old prospect. Tocchet didn’t rule out Knuble making the season-opening roster.
“Yeah, it could happen,” Tocchet said. “There’s a numbers game, but he’s definitely pushing some people.”
Jett Luchanko has also played in all three preseason games and has collected an assist in each one.
“We’re building some chemistry there,” Knuble said. “He’s fun to play with, he’s so fast, he creates turnovers — an easy guy to play with.”
Helge Grans left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and didn’t return. The 24-year-old defenseman recorded an assist on Michkov’s goal.
“I thought it would be appropriate, at the front, just to express gratitude for the LeBron era here,” general manager Rob Pelinka said to open Thursday’s news conference.
“Clearly, new team, new players, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today, but we just as an organization are so grateful for the run that we had with him here. The Lakers have become, as they should, a perennial playoff team.
“It was a great era, and we’re grateful for it. I just think it’s important to say that at the onset as we turn into a new chapter.”
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Reddick addressed the media Thursday. Getty Images
After opening the media availability with a moment of silence in honor of Lawrence Tanter, Rob Pelinka expressed gratitude for LeBron James, who left the Lakers after 8 seasons for the 76ers during the offseason: pic.twitter.com/FLWo1B38m4
This summer, James informed the Lakers he would not return for the 2026-27 season and would enter free agency. The 41-year-old’s decision kicked off the saga of the summer as NBA teams attempted to snag James.
The veteran ultimately joined the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal.
Meanwhile, the Lakers completely revamped the roster headlined by the signing of center Walker Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal. Pelinka and coach JJ Redick spoke to the media for the first time Thursday about the roster overhaul.
It’s a new era in Los Angeles as Luka Doncic shoulders the Lakers as captain and leader.
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the second half. Corey Sipkin for NY PostJJ Redick points while talking to LeBron James during a game. NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins chases the puck down during a preseason game between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on September 22, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to preseason game 3 of 4, folks!
The Bruins and Flyers will renew acquaintances tonight in Philadelphia, just a couple of days after the B’s beat the Flyers at TD Garden by a score of 5-1.
Per the NHL website, this game will be broadcast on NESN+ locally, so you should be able to watch if you have a subscription/cable.
Per the Bruins yesterday, here’s who you’ll see tonight:
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Zac Thornton #49 of the New York Mets pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on September 24, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After taking the first two games of their three-game series, the Mets’ bats couldn’t shake off the (presumed) Texas BBQ coma they were in, dropping the series finale to the Rangers 3-1.
The Mets got off to a good start today, with Francisco Lindor leading off the game with a ground-rule double. Lindor would come around to score on a Carson Benge RBI single three batters later, putting the Mets up 1-0. However, the Mets would reach base just four more times over the subsequent eight innings, twice on hits (a single from Brett Baty and a double from Nick Morabito), and twice via the base on balls (Juan Soto and Marcus Semien).
Former Mets’ first round track pick Kumar Rocker started for the Rangers and, aside from the first inning run, was solid over five for Texas. He walked two, struck out four, and lowered his ERA to 4.38 on the season. Relievers Robert Garcia, Tyler Alexander, Chase Silseth, and Jordan Montgomery all blanked the Mets, allowing just one base runner over the game’s final four innings.
Aside from allowing a two-run home run to Josh Jung in the bottom of the first, Zach Thornton was solid in his final start of the year. He pitched five innings, allowing just those two runs, striking out four and walking one. With 83 pitches on the afternoon, they could’ve pushed him to potentially pitch one more inning, but why?
Thornton was relieved by Jefrey Yan, who on his second pitch of the afternoon, allowed a home run to Corey Seager to extend the Rangers’ lead to two runs. Yan would last two-thirds of an inning before he was relieved by Austin Warren, who was perfect in his inning and a third of work. Jack Weisenberger gave up one hit and one walk in his inning, but stranded both runners.
With this win, the Rangers keep their playoff hopes alive, as they are currently a half game up on the Rangers before Houston plays the Athletics this evening.
The Mets travel to Washington D.C. to face the Nationals in the final series of the season. The Mets have not announced a starter after Christian Scott went on the IL, but Andrew Alvarez will start for the Nats.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 24: Randy Dobnak #62 of Kansas City Royals throws in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on September 24, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Randy Dobnak failed to get out of the second inning while the offense managed just a single run against the White Sox Thursday afternoon as the Royals appropriately lost their 91st game of the season, 9-1.
Chicago came out attacking Dobnak in the first inning. Through only 14 pitches, he’d already faced six batters and allowed three runs. His last outing of the season was ugly as he recorded only four outs while allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out one. He also committed two throwing errors, one after fielding a bunt and one on a botched pick-off attempt.
In the first, leadoff hitter Sam Antonacci singled up the middle. Catcher Kyle Teel followed with a perfect bunt that Dobnak cleanly fielded, but his throw to first pulled Vinnie Pasqauntino off the bag. Miguel Vargas followed with an RBI single to left. After striking out Munetaka Murakami for the first out, Dobnak got Andrew Benintendi to fly out to center, which scored Teel from third. Vargas then stole second before scoring on Tristan Peters’ single through the infield. Chase Meidroth then singled before Dobnak retired Colson Montgomery on a fly ball to center.
An unencouraging top half of the first inning, and yet things continued to get worse. Braden Montgomery led off the second with a single before Antonacci walked. Montgomery then scored on Dobnak’s second error of the game when miscommunication ensued and the pitcher, unbeknownst to the first baseman, attempted a pickoff. Dobnak then hit Teel before Vargas added his second RBI single in two innings. After Murakami grounded out to second, which scored Teel, the Royals finally pulled Dobnak.
Good riddance.
The Royals offense collected seven hits with John Rave and Kyle Isbel both going 2-for-4. Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 32nd double in the bottom of the first while Nick Loftin recorded his 27th and Rave his 8th. The Royals now have 285 doubles on the year, which leads the Majors.
Salvador Perez scored the Royals only run of the day when he uncorked his 20th home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the score to 8-1. The White Sox grabbed that run right back in the top of the fifth. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
It’s the 10th time Salvy has hit at least 20 home runs in a season, extending his Royals record.
For the White Sox, former Royals farmhand David Sandlin had a strong start: six innings, five hits, one walk, seven strikeouts, one earned run. He improves to 3-2 on the year with a 5.58 ERA. Chicago’s bullpen finished the game with three unexciting innings in which the Royals mustered two hits and one walk.
Aside from Dobnak, Anthony Gose pitched 1-and-2/3 innings while giving up one run and striking out three. Spencer Bivens and Nolan Hoffman combined for three innings of shutout ball while allowing two hits and zero walks while striking out five. Alex Lange and Juan Cuas, not so much—they combined for three innings pitched, three earned runs, five walks, and three strikeouts. Lange allowed the only White Sox home run, to Teel (5) in the fourth.
For the Royals, Cleveland comes to town tomorrow night to start the season’s final series. The White Sox head to Colorado to face one of the few teams worse than the Royals in 2026.
The Mets dropped the final game of their three-game set against the Rangers, 3-1, on Thursday afternoon.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Rookie Carson Benge kicked off the scoring for the Mets early, cracking a single out to right field and sending Francisco Lindor, who doubled in the Mets' first at-bat of the afternoon, home for his 63rd RBI of the season. Overall, the rookie went 1-for-4, grounding out in the fourth, flying out in the seventh, and striking out swinging in the ninth.
Heading into the game, Benge led the team in runs (83), batting average (.275), OBP (.338) and SLG (.420). With one more home run in any of the final three games of the season, he would become the first Met with both 20 homers and 20 steals in his rookie season.
-- The Rangers quickly retaliated, taking a one-run lead in the bottom of the first. Leadoff Justin Foscue singled to left field to start before Josh Jung slammed the ball into the left field stands at 104 mph, sending himself and Foscue around the bases for the 2-1 edge.
After several deadlocked innings, Corey Seager added to the Rangers' lead with a fly ball out to right field to open the bottom of the sixth. With the win, the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak.
-- In the 15th start of his rookie season, Zac Thornton nearly replicated his performance from his last start Sept. 18, allowing two runs on four hits, walking just one batter, and striking out four across five innings. Jung was the only Rangers batter to make serious contact with a ball tossed by Thornton, accounting for two of the four hits, both of which left the bat at over 95mph (his second hit, a line-drive double in the bottom of the fourth, clocked 96.5mph).
Jeffrey Yan took over for the southpaw for just two-thirds of the sixth inning, allowing two hits and walking Jung before being replaced by Austin Warren, who struck out two across 1.1 innings. Jack Weisenburger closed the game for the Mets with one allowed hit, one walk, and one strikeout in his one inning.
-- Rangers starter Kumar Rocker posted a similar game, owning the mound for five innings. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out four. The Mets draftedRocker in 2021 before ultimately deciding not to sign him due to concerns about the health of his right arm. He was then redrafted by the Rangers in 2022 and has been with the organization since.
Robert Gracia, Tyler Alexander, Chase Silseth, and Jordan Montgomery pitched one inning each to round out the game for Texas. Only Alexander allowed a hit, and Silseth struck out two. Montgomery struck out one. -- Much of the excitement for the Mets came in the field rather than at the plate. In the bottom of the second, Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford took off from first in an attempt to steal second but was caught by Mets catcher Luis Torrens, who calmly caught Thornton's pitch and fired it down the field to Marcus Semien forthe out. Later, when Jake Burger tried to steal third in the bottom of the sixth, Torrens quickly tossed the ball back to Semien to trap Burger between the bases. After Burger slipped on his way back to second, Semien tagged him out as he scrambled to get safely to third.
The Mets connected for a double play to shut the Rangers down in the bottom of the eighth. After Seager struck out swinging, Burger grounded to Lindor at short, who tossed to Semien at second for the second out. Semien then turned to Brett Baty at first to close the half inning.
-- Brandon Nimmo was stifled at the plate in his final appearance against his former team, walking and striking out once apiece.
Game MVP: Josh Jung
In three at-bats, Jung notched three hits, including his first-inning two-RBI home run.
Highlights
Carson Benge gets the Mets on the board first with his 63rd RBI of the season! pic.twitter.com/Hn9ToL8Dzc
"Like a Fuddrucker!" Gary was cooking as Jack Weisenburger gets the double play to end the 8th inning in the Weisenburger vs. Burger matchup pic.twitter.com/3wh8NtUcqX
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 17: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after giving up a run scoring single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game at Target Field on August 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We received injury news from the Braves ahead of Walt Weiss’s usual pregame press conference this afternoon. Ronnie’s fine, but Martín Pérez is not.
Martin Perez (lower back inflammation) is going on the IL.
Perez only threw 79 pitches in his last start. There didn’t appear to be any signs of struggle, so perhaps this has been an issue for some time. Hey, at least it’s not the elbow. Martin Perez has thrown 142 innings of 3.04/4.31/4.52 ball this season, but his postseason appears in doubt and perhaps JR Ritchie may make the postseason roster after all.
We got another bit of a stunner to start off the Walt Weiss’s pregame presser, as the team announced straight away that Martín Pérez would be heading to the IL with what was described as lower back inflammation. As ABsinceWayBack mentioned above, there wasn’t really too much of an indication that something was wrong with Pérez during his recent start. Unfortunately, it appears to be one of those things that just suddenly started acting up on the veteran hurler.
“He felt it during that last outing on Houston. He gutted through it,” explained Weiss when mark Bowman asked him about how it all happened. “You can imagine how frustrated he is. In his mind, he’s wanting to try to hurry up and get better and get back and he wants to be a part of it but we’re just running out of time here.”
“It’s tough for Martín. He’s obviously re-established himself after last year missing most of the year. He’s re-established himself with the year he’s had this year and we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”
Obviously, this has a pretty big effect on Atlanta’s plans for the Postseason as far as deploying their pitching staff. Pérez very likely would’ve been in line to make a start (or at least a bulk appearance out of the bullpen) if the Braves get past the Wild Card series. Pérez has had a bounce-back season as he’s made 30 appearances (26 starts) and produced an ERA of 3.04 (73 ERA-) and a FIP of 4.31 (104 FIP-), which is some of the best work that he’s done in years. It’s been a long road back to the big time for Pérez and it’s a bummer that this is how his regular season had to end.
As far as the pitching plans go, there aren’t any immediate changes to the rotation as they finish off this Cincinnati series and go dust off the regular season in Miami. However, you’d have to imagine that this could lead to a potential bullpen game if the Braves get into the Divisional Series since they’d have to roll right into the NLDS from the Wild Card Series if the opening round ends up going three games. At this point, a sweep would be huge for Atlanta’s chances at making a deep run in the Postseason — much easier said than done!
“For the remaining games, we have things mapped out,” explained Weiss when he was further asked about the plans. “Things can change. If we end up having to use more pitchers (for instance, tonight), then it’ll change what we do tomorrow. That’s always the case, really.”
Similarly to how they’ve had to sort of roll with the punches during the regular season, Weiss continued to explain how the Braves were going to “cross that road when we get there” when it comes to their starting situation. The Braves do have their fair share of options to start games, like Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver (who is currently in the plans to make a piggyback appearance once Tyler Mahle is done tonight) and JR Ritchie. They also have a deep and formidable bullpen as well, so it’s a situation that is still very much manageable at the moment.
With all of that being said, it’s certainly frustrating for the Braves to have lost Reynaldo López, Bryce Elder and now Martín Pérez right before the Postseason is set to kick off. Again, the Braves have options but you’d much rather prefer for those options to expand rather than constrict as the Postseason gets closer and closer. It’s also a nasty reminder of how things have gone for Atlanta’s pitching staff in so many Postseason appearances in recent memory — even in 2021 when Dylan Lee was called upon to make a “start” in the World Series.
Simply put, the Braves have just got to navigate things and it’s on Walt Weiss to figure out a way to do so in a tactically-effective way. Hopefully they’ll get deep enough in the Postseason in order to get those pitching options back and then they’ll have good problems to have in order to figure out who’s going to be on their pitching staff for each respective round. We’ll see what happens.
UPDATE [6:50 p.m. ET]: The Braves have made Pérez’s move to the IL official and have called up Elieser Hernández as the corresponding move.
The #Braves today selected RHP Elieser Hernández to the major league roster and placed LHP Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list, backdated to September 21, due to low back inflammation. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club recalled RHP Hurston Waldrep to Atlanta and…
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Josh Jung #6 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammate Justin Foscue #14 after hitting a two run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Globe Life Field on September 24, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers scored three runs while the New York Mets scored one run.
After a couple of elsewise embarrassing defeats to the National League’s New York squad to begin this crucial series, and with the threat of a crippling sweep, the Rangers decided to buckle down and give the hometown fans one last victory for the road in the final scheduled game at The Shed during this long, weird season.
To accomplish their victory, the Rangers turned to two of their biggest, most necessary catalysts at the plate and a cobbled together pitching staff working through things one pitch at a time.
Things started on an inauspicious note with today’s starter Kumar Rocker allowing a first inning run that had to have had the faithful thinking, “the Rangers are really going to bookend the home slate with series sweeps at the hands of NL squads?”
Indeed, the first home series of the season for Texas was a sweep by the Cincinnati Reds and down 1-0 immediately, it was looking like the Mets had claimed favorable odds for pulling off a final ignominious sweep of Texas in their building even with the division still hanging in the balance.
Leave it to the guy who has been carrying the load since he returned to action to dissuade that notion as Josh Jung followed New York’s first inning run with a two-run dinger in the bottom of the inning to put the Rangers up early. And, as we’ve learned over a whole summer and 80 home games, the Rangers having an early lead is perhaps the predominant key to their success.
To Rocker’s credit, with the Rangers using the entire supply of duct tape in the state of Texas to try to hold their pitching staff together at the moment, the young right-hander stepped up and pitched five innings with the first inning run being his only blemish.
Overall Rocker went his five frames allowing the run on three hits and two walks while striking out four Mets. After Rocker left, the beleaguered bullpen was tasked with needing to wade through four innings in a one-run game. Texas got those four innings out of Robert Garcia, Tyler Alexander, Chase Silseth, and Jordan Montgomery with only Alexander allowing a base runner. Kudos to the ‘pen. They stepped up today.
It didn’t remain a one-run game either as Corey Seager finally came through after a rough series and gave the arms a bit of insurance with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. Eventually that allowed Montgomery to pick up the save with Jacob Latz unavailable. It was just the second save of Montgomery’s career but it was a nice time to get it as Texas held on for the win.
With any luck, today’s game won’t actually be the final game played at The Shed this season but as far as the regular season goes, the Rangers are finished in Arlington. At 79-80, 14th best in baseball, the Rangers hold a half game lead over Houston for the American League West crown.
Player of the Game: We’ve taken to dubbing Jung “the straw” of late for being the straw that stirs the drink for what is a complicated offense that has been prone to disappear without him.
Today, without him, the Rangers and Met would presumably still be playing as his two-run home run in the bottom of the first to erase a 1-0 Mets lead proved the difference for a player who is proving to be a difference maker down the stretch.
Overall Jung went 3-for-3 with a walk to reach in each of his PAs today. Josh Jung wants some of that postseason action.
Up Next: The final series of the regular season begins for Texas as they travel up to Minnesota to take on a Twins squad that they have not beaten this year, as they were swept by them in Arlington back in June.
As the Rangers don’t really have any starters left a starter has not been named for the opener. Meanwhile, Minnesota will opt for RHP Joe Ryan in the opener.
The Friday evening first pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 7:10 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
It took Adam Fantilliholding out for the first week of Blue Jackets training camp, but the team's top young center has agreed to a six-year contract worth $82.5 million ($13.75 million AAV) to finally put negotiations behind him and join his team at Nationwide Arena.
“Adam Fantilli has all of the tools you look for in a player ... speed, size, skill along with a competitive drive to succeed,” Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "He is one of the most exciting young players in the NHL and a big part of what we are building in Columbus, so this is a very exciting day for our organization and our fans."
Fantilli, 21, became a restricted free agent without arbitration rights July 1. Had he signed a big offer sheet, like Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson did with the Philadelphia Flyers, the Jackets would’ve been forced to match it or let Fantilli leave for a package of compensatory draft picks.
That didn't happen, allowing Waddell to seek a more team friendly cap hit than what Fantilli and agent Pat Brisson initially wanted. Getting their price, however, wound up costing Fantilli valuable preparation time with his teammates prior to opening the season against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 1 at Nationwide Arena.
The Ducks weren't as fortunate from a cap perspective, swallowing hard before matching the Flyers’ offer sheet that now pays Carlsson at $18 million a season for the next five years. Carlsson was selected second overall in 2023, one pick ahead of where the Blue Jackets got Fantilli, a comparable top young center who’s similar in size, age and stats through their first three seasons.
According to PuckPedia, the Blue Jackets had just under $12.7 million in cap space prior to signing Fantilli, so they're about $1.2 million over the cap ceiling of $104 million for this season. That number, however, counts salaries for 14 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies — including injured center Isac Lundestrom (Achilles surgery) and goalie Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder).
Merzlikins, who underwent shoulder surgery Aug. 17, and Lundestrom will almost certainly start the season on IR, and both could be placed on long-term injured reserve to gain flexibility against the cap. Utilizing LTIR allows teams to exceed the cap ceiling by the amount that injured players placed on it puts them over. So, adding Merzlikins' $5.4 million and Lundestrom's $1.3 million salaries would provide plenty of cushion.
Teams are allowed to exceed the cap in the offseason by up to 10% of the ceiling, but must be cap compliant before 5 p.m. on Sept. 28.
Fantilli is now the Blue Jackets’ highest-paid player by a wide margin, exceeding the salary of reigning Norris Trophy winning defenseman Zach Werenski ($9.58 AAV) by roughly $4.1 million this season and next.
Though it doesn't come close to matching Carlsson's annual cap hit, Fantilli's salary now sits between Ducks power forward Cutter Gauthier's new deal for $13.5 million over the next six years and Connor Bedard's $15 million AAV for the next five with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Gauthier was selected fourth overall by the Flyers in 2022 and traded to the Ducks, while Bedard was the 2023 draft's first overall pick. Carlsson went second that year and Fantilli, whose numbers stack up comparably, went third. Fantilli has totaled 140 points on 67 goals and 73 assists through 213 games with the Blue Jackets, while Carlsson has give the Ducks 141 points on 61 goals and 80 assists and in 201 games.
Bedard tops both with 203 points on 75 goals and 128 assists in 219 games for the Blackhawks, but he's done it while posting a -98 plus/minus for a team that has lagged near the bottom of the NHL's overall standings.
Carlsson, who has a -1 plus/minus, helped the Ducks get back into the playoffs last season while Fantilli (-30) has narrowly missed the postseason the past two years with the Blue Jackets, a team that most analysts didn't consider a playoff contender.
Now, Fantilli is locked in with the Blue Jackets for six more years as an elite young center they'll need to continue improving over the course of this contract. Those type of gems are almost always drafted, rarely traded and almost never signed as free agents, which boosts their value immensely.
The NHL’s best teams typically follow the same roster construct, starting with goaltending and defense before shifting to center ice. The Blue Jackets are doing well in those areas, especially after locking up Fantilli for a forward group that lost center Boone Jenner in free agency but has Sean Monahan, Charlie Coyle, Lundestrom and Cole Sillinger as additional center options.
